A schoolgirl had a cadet boss’ baby after he had sex with her in a city park.

The girl’s horrified father only discovered his 15-year-old child had formed a “relationship” with the man twice her age when he found a letter from a midwife.

Christopher Leaney had previously told the girl’s father that there was nothing going on.

But the 30-year-old Nautical Training Corps officer had been carrying out a secret affair with the teenager, having sex with her in Stanmer Park, in Brighton.

The girl gave birth earlier this year but the relationship between the couple ended when Leaney was arrested in October last year.

At Hove Crown Court Leaney, of Cuckmere Way, Brighton, admitted four charges of sexual activity with a child.

Yesterday he was jailed for two years.

The court was told that Leaney, who was 29-year-old at the time of the offence, has no previous convictions.

He was described in court as a hard-working man who had spent time as an officer of the Nautical Training Corps, based at TS Zealous, in Carden Avenue, Brighton.

Michael Warren, prosecuting, said the girl's father confronted Leaney when he heard rumours of a relationship between the couple.

But Leaney denied anything was going on and told her father it would not be right for a man of his age to see a girl so young.

Mr Warren said the father accepted what Leaney had said was genuine.

She said: "Unfortunately, little did he know there was a romantic liaison going on."

After the family realised the girl was pregnant Leaney went to the police.

He told officers he had developed a relationship with her and on St Valentine's Day he had given her a ring to show his commitment.

Brian Shaw, defending, said Leaney felt remorse.

He said: "Up until this offence his life has been unexceptional."

The judge ordered Leaney to sign on the sex offenders’ register for ten years.

He also imposed a sexual offences prevent order for ten years banning him from working or being a volunteer with any youth or educational organisation which has members under 16 and also prohibiting him from having any contact with girls under 16 unless they are accompanied by an adult relative.

Judge Anthony Niblett told him: "The girl was nearing her 16th birthday and had you and she been prepared to wait three months you would have been committing no offence."